Paper Faces on Parade

[applesaucemod]

The residents of Manhattan will once again find themselves drawn into the currents of the rift when they sleep tonight. Once again, too, the rift is drawing in people from other worlds, both those who might one day find themselves pulled through in waking life and those who might yet escape its grasp.

Tonight, it seems, a celebration is in order. The ballroom of a country manor is the setting for tonight's gathering. Wood and marble gleam in the gas lighting, and a bar at one end of the room provides the, ahem, social lubricant some guests may require. At the other end, a staircase leads to a walkway that runs the entire parameter of the room, allowing guests to watch the dancing from above. While the party is localized in the ballroom, who knows what secret passages and hidden ways a grand old house like this one might conceal?

Those who appear here will find themselves wearing a disguise on arrival. Should the rift cause one to appear in a costume not of their liking (as it is fairly likely to do), an enormous wardrobe can be found through a door near the bar. In it, guests will find a seemingly infinite assortment of costumes and masks of all sizes and varieties ready for their use.


[Mod note: Usual dream-party rules apply. Both members and non-members are welcome to use any character, be they already in the game or no, and players can choose whether to have their characters remember this in the morning.]

Comments

[has_a_horn]

Gabriel frowns at the news. He knew that Topher and Bennet had been some kind of close. That she would disappear so soon after must be a blow to the kid. "You think anything fishy happened?"

And he's also wondering if Topher's suggesting that Gabriel might have had something to do with it.

[brink]

Topher shakes his head a little. "There was a spike in rift activity the same time as she disappeared. Sometimes that happens... People get taken away the same way they got here," he answers. It hadn't even occured to Topher that Gabriel could've done something. He is, perhaps, more trusting than he should be in people he likes. It's hurt him before, more than once, but he doesn't seem to learn. In fact, most of the people he knew and trusted had at some point betrayed or hurt him pretty badly.

[has_a_horn]

Gabriel also has a bad history with friends and lovers betraying him after he's given out a little trust. Or him just failing fantastically at relationships... Which at the moment has him frowning across the room at the TARDIS cuddling up to the Doctor.

More often than not, Gabe expects people to hurt him. It doesn't really come as a surprise that the rift might be an equally vicious arbiter. "Do you think she's gone back to...wherever both of you come from?"

[brink]

He shakes his head again. "She'd already been dead for a month before I fell through the rift. Well, not this rift. I arrived in San Francisco..." He's not sure if Gabriel knew either of these things, though at least surely they mentioned her death when they got reunited, right? Probably.

And if she has gone back, well, then it'd have to be sometime after that, or she'd simply gone into hiding, which... well, he doesn't think she would.

[has_a_horn]

Yes, he learned about the whole death thing at some point. The San Fran thing not so much, but it seems a bit crass to bring that up now. He shrugs, not really knowing what to offer Topher. "I'm sorry, I haven't heard anything."

[brink]

Topher nods a bit. It was an extremely vain hope, anyway. But it's important for him to cover all possibilities.

Since Gabriel seems to be kind of okay with talking to him now, though, Topher decides to change the subject. He doesn't really want to dwell on Bennett, nor discuss her with - well, anyone, actually.

"What've you been up to lately?" Okay so it's more like a request for a subject change. He doesn't have much to share, really. He's just been permanently diving into work.

[has_a_horn]

"Recovering." And okay, that was probably one of the harsher things he could bring up, so he adds in, "Enjoying the city's many and varied amenities, making friends, avoiding anyone connected to ROMAC. You know how it goes." Okay, so that wasn't much better. Give him some time, he's grumpy.

And yes, he's still frowning over at the TARDIS being snuggly with the Doctor. Hope Topher didn't want someone talking to his face anytime soon.

[brink]

Topher nods quietly in reply to his somewhat harsh replies. Even if Gabriel ends up not blaming Topher for it all, then it's still an ordeal for him to go through, and definitely something to recover from. And Topher doesn't intend to bring up the whole 'angel' thing, and... well. Everything he saw. He wouldn't have liked anyone to snoop in his past without permission either.

After a moment of watching Gabriel sulk, he follows Gabriel line of vision and after a moment spots the Doctor and the TARDIS. Ah. "...Anything on your mind?" he asks after a few more quiet moments, giving Gabriel the opportunity to complain if he wants to.

[has_a_horn]

"Hm?" He looks back over at Topher, then follows his line of sight back to the TARDIS. "Oh, that. She's..." He waves a hand in a vague gesture probably meant to encompass her entire being. "She thinks because she has fancy sensors and a full kitchen that she gets to lord it over all the little humans. It's an asshole move, but now I'm the asshole for pointing that out."

He takes a sip from his drink and decidedly turns his head away from the upsetting view. "You should probably avoid her. She might set you on fire if you get too annoying."

[brink]

"She hasn't yet," he answers, before he can think not to. The TARDIS is the only one who's shown him some sympathy and kindness lately. He has a few people he's friendly with, but none he can confide in - he can hardly burden kids like Luke with his problems.

"...Has she been setting anyone on fire?" he asks, realising that didn't sound like a random example. That doesn't sound like her. Well, unless she had a good reason. He has no doubt she's capable of it.

[has_a_horn]

"Oh, just things so far, but I think the next time she meets Peter he's going to walk away burnt and crispy." His eye scans the crowd for Peter to point him out, and then when that doesn't work, he feels out for him with his mind. Woken up, it seems.

"Tall dark pain in my ass, but he probably doesn't deserve being flambéd. You'd think she'd like him. He looks exactly like her cuddle bunny there. But with more leather."

[brink]

Topher nods. "I know him," he answers. They haven't actually met in physical form, but the Dreaming is as good as, especially for Topher. "Visited his head once. I think that was the first time he was in a shared dream, so he didn't appreciate it." That had been over two months ago now.

"Not very friendly guy, but no, probably doesn't deserve getting set on fire," he agrees.

[has_a_horn]

"See. But I point out that they're assholes and now they both..." He rolls his eyes and takes a sip from his drink. "Well, I'm not Mr. Popular. Surprise surprise."

Sorry, Topher. You really have no idea what you've just gotten into.

[brink]

Hey, at least Gabe is talking to him. Although advice on interpersonal relationship is not exactly Topher's strong suit.

"People don't like being told they're wrong," he comments, more to let Gabriel complain some more than to provide any valuable insight.

[has_a_horn]

"Yeah, no shit. But sometimes they need to hear it. And they did." He shrugs his face, the corner of his mouth raising in a parody of a smirk.

"You're right. They don't want someone that's going to point out blazing stupidity. They want-" And now is a very bad time to look up, because the TARDIS is running her hands into the Doctor's hair and kissing his cheek. Gabriel very nearly cringes. It's should be becoming clearer and clearer that this isn't really about Peter at the moment. "Unconditional acceptance. Built-in trust."

[brink]

It's becoming increasingly clear, yes. Topher's not sure what exactly he can say to that, because he's not entirely sure what this is about. Except, clearly, the TARDIS, and probably the Doctor.

"Did something happen between you two?" he probes uncertainly. Besides the flambéing, obviously.

[has_a_horn]

"Good question." Just give him a second to think on that. They haven't exactly spent a lot of time together, but when he and the TARDIS manage to get along, they really get along. It's just...all of those other times that are the problem.

"A lot of arguing. Some decent conversation. A bit of tongue."

Oh look, they're dancing now. Wonderful.

[brink]

Topher does a bit of a doubletake at the last bit. "Tongue?" That definitely comes as a surprise. Though he supposes it explains what he now figures must be jealousy. It's just... well... An angel and a time machine. Bit unexpected.

[has_a_horn]

"Mm. Not bad, either." He wouldn't say they burnt the house down with their passion or anything, but it had been nice. "You know about them? She told me you were...helping out."

[brink]

Topher nods. He's not sure entirely what 'know about' entails, but he knows they're pretty much soul-mates, even if he doesn't know the details.

"Yeah. I'm repairing a time machine," he answers, and he can't help but grin a bit at that. It really is a dream come true. That the time machine and her pilot both happen to be friends is a bonus.

[has_a_horn]

"She told me that I should trust you." Just, y'know, so Topher knows that he has the TARDIS' trust. That doesn't mean Gabriel's ready to follow her advice, though.

[brink]

"She said," Topher answers with a nod. "She also said that you're slow to do so. Whereas I seem to be careless." Perhaps he should be more discerning, but he also doesn't want to cut himself off, like he has this past while. It certainly hasn't made him happier.